--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess the story that best defines us…" description: "\"I guess the story that best defines us [with Bud Yorkin] and our relationship goes back to the [Dean] Martin and [Jerry] Lewis show. The four stage man..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/norman-lear-7597_arthur_i-guess-the-story-that-best-defines-us-w_2595589.png" --- # I guess the story that best defines us \[with Bud Yorkin\]… ![“I guess the story that best defines us [with Bud Yorkin] and our relationship goes back to the [Dean] Martin and [Jerry] Lewis show. The four stage managers on that show became major TV creators and directors - John Rich, Jack Smight, Arthur Penn and Bud Yorkin.” quote by Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/norman-lear-7597_arthur_i-guess-the-story-that-best-defines-us-w_2595589.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/norman-lear-7597_arthur_i-guess-the-story-that-best-defines-us-w_2595589.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/norman-lear-7597_arthur_i-guess-the-story-that-best-defines-us-w_2595589.png) > “I guess the story that best defines us \[with Bud Yorkin\] and our relationship goes back to the \[Dean\] Martin and \[Jerry\] Lewis show. The four stage managers on that show became major TV creators and directors - John Rich, Jack Smight, Arthur Penn and Bud Yorkin.” [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects how early collaborative experiences shape creative careers and relationships. **In simple terms:** Early collaborations influence later success. Key Takeaway Leverage early networks for growth. Themes creativity collaboration career legacy Mood nostalgic reflective Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - TV production - career mentorship - industry networking Key Concepts media history mentor relationships career trajectories Questions to Reflect On - How did those early roles shape your own path? - What can modern creators learn from such mentorship? A Different Perspective May overlook individual talent differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Our relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-relationship/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-managers/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [ Next up \[new TV stars\] was \[Dean\] Martin and \[Jerry\] Lewis on 'The Colgate Comedy Hour.' ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/next-up-new-tv-stars-was-dean-martin-and-jerry-lewis-on-the-colgate/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [ We all \[Ed Simmons,Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis\] started together, so there were no rules - anything we wrote became television. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/we-all-ed-simmons-dean-martin-and-jerry-lewis-started-together-so/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [An interesting difference between new and experienced stage managers is that the new stage manager thinks of running the show as the most difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/an-interesting-difference-between-new-and-experienced-stage-managers/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [You can't make theater happen without actors. The actor is the central ingredient in making theater happen. Audiences may come to theaters to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/you-can-t-make-theater-happen-without-actors-the-actor-is-the-central/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [According to most philosophers, God in making the world enslaved it. According to Christianity, in making it, He set it free. God had written,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/according-to-most-philosophers-god-in-making-the-world-enslaved-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I went to drama school but it was very hard to get work until I was made assistant stage manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-went-to-drama-school-but-it-was-very-hard-to-get-work-until-i-was/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [I got a note from the stage manager one night that someone wanted to meet me. And it was Steven Spielberg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-reynolds/i-got-a-note-from-the-stage-manager-one-night-that-someone-wanted-to/) [Corey Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-reynolds/) > [This whole creation is essentially subjective, and the dream is the theater where the dreamer is at once: scene, actor, prompter, stage manager, author,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-whole-creation-is-essentially-subjective-and-the-dream-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen to the stage manager and get on stage when they tell you to. No one has time for the rock star bullshit. None…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/listen-to-the-stage-manager-and-get-on-stage-when-they-tell-you-to-no/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I grew up in a lot of stage managers' booths, memorizing the lines. I'm sure I was the most annoying child in existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/i-grew-up-in-a-lot-of-stage-managers-booths-memorizing-the-lines-i-m/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [My very first professional job was with a theatre company in 1965 and the first job they gave me was literally shovelling sh\*t. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-shaw/my-very-first-professional-job-was-with-a-theatre-company-in-1965-and/) [Martin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-shaw/) > [I dropped out in middle school. I dropped out in, towards the beginning of the ninth grade. And then I started studying -I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-dropped-out-in-middle-school-i-dropped-out-in-towards-the-beginning/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [Whether you are a writer or an actor or a stage manager, you are trying to express the complications of life through a shared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hall/whether-you-are-a-writer-or-an-actor-or-a-stage-manager-you-are/) [Lee Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hall/) > [There is no definitive list of the duties of a stage manager that is applicable to all theaters and staging environments. Regardless of specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-is-no-definitive-list-of-the-duties-of-a-stage-manager-that-is/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The staff, stage managers, ushers all behaved as if they respected the actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-staff-stage-managers-ushers-all-behaved-as-if-they-respected-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Norman Lear > [When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/when-we-went-on-the-air-i-didn-t-want-to-be-interrupted-for-an-act/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In this nation, leadership is dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-this-nation-leadership-is-dollars/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't change people's minds, but you can get them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/maybe-they-continued-to-agree-with-archie-bunker-as-i-said-earlier/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think if you're feeling great about where you are, everything that led up to it had to be terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-if-you-re-feeling-great-about-where-you-are-everything-that/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of films on the side. You may see some more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/life-goes-on-pretty-much-the-same-way-i-ve-been-working-on-a-couple/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [If there is a reason to believe in God, it would be the Havana Leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/if-there-is-a-reason-to-believe-in-god-it-would-be-the-havana-leaf/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In my 90-plus years, I have lived a multitude of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-my-90-plus-years-i-have-lived-a-multitude-of-lives/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [America is a country of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/america-is-a-country-of-excess/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [We just may be the most well-informed, yet least self-aware, people in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/we-just-may-be-the-most-well-informed-yet-least-self-aware-people-in/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The people responsible for the dollars that will buy the sex and violence so many deplore, don't even know what's going - well, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-people-responsible-for-the-dollars-that-will-buy-the-sex-and/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [... For all our alarm, it is clear that the religious right is responding to a real hunger in our society... a deep-seated yearning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/for-all-our-alarm-it-is-clear-that-the-religious-right-is-responding/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The movies had a slogan at the time, to distinguish themselves from TV, that said 'movies are better than ever.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-movies-had-a-slogan-at-the-time-to-distinguish-themselves-from-tv/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think Americans have become a - much more a nation of consumers than citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-americans-have-become-a-much-more-a-nation-of-consumers-than/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [My dad called me meat head dead from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/my-dad-called-me-meat-head-dead-from-the-neck-up/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) [Explore all 89 Norman Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## More Arthur quotes > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [A guy called Arthur Brown... was a big influence of mine... and also Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/a-guy-called-arthur-brown-was-a-big-influence-of-mine-and-also-ian/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [I have a sense of them being Easter religions, for some reason. Christianity, of course, is a mystery religion, too, and I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-sense-of-them-being-easter-religions-for-some-reason/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [And then, all of a sudden, you're like, all that's great and fun, but Arthur Miller's in my dressing room. This is the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/and-then-all-of-a-sudden-you-re-like-all-that-s-great-and-fun-but/) [Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/) > [For five hundred dollars, I'll name a subatomic particle after you. Some of my satisfied customers include Arthur C. Quark and George Meson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/for-five-hundred-dollars-i-ll-name-a-subatomic-particle-after-you/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [“That boy had wanted to be Ser Arthur Dayne, but someplace along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/that-boy-had-wanted-to-be-ser-arthur-dayne-but-someplace-along-the/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The book that really, really shaped my politics and has forever is Arthur Koestler's "Darkness at Noon," which is a novel based on terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/the-book-that-really-really-shaped-my-politics-and-has-forever-is/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [Since I came here I have learned that Chester A. Arthur is one man and the President of the United States is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-a-arthur/since-i-came-here-i-have-learned-that-chester-a-arthur-is-one-man-and/) [Chester A. Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-a-arthur/) > [“In the energies of the Green Knight, we have an Elder who comes to the entire court of Arthur to challenge and "open a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-chandler/in-the-energies-of-the-green-knight-we-have-an-elder-who-comes-to-the/) [Virginia Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-chandler/) > [“AT&T developed cross-country systems of microwave relay towers, which marched across the countryside from coast to coast and border to border, every 20 to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-t-developed-cross-country-systems-of-microwave-relay-towers-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now that Marilyn Monroe is kosher, Arthur Miller can eat her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/now-that-marilyn-monroe-is-kosher-arthur-miller-can-eat-her/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [You don't have to believe that there was a King Arthur to get the significance of those stories, but Christians say we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/you-don-t-have-to-believe-that-there-was-a-king-arthur-to-get-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) Browse all 340 Arthur quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess the story that best defines us [with Bud Yorkin] and our relationship goes back to the [Dean] Martin and [Jerry] Lewis show. 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